In Psalm 80 Asaph is crying for the restoration of the nation of Israel. In verses 1 and 2 the Lord is called the Shepherd of Israel. He is invoked to restore the chastened and scattered nation. This Psalm is a rehearsal of what will happen in the future when God gathers His children from all the nations and brings them home to Himself. "A nation shall be saved in a day." The regathering of the nation of Israel is as sure as the rapture of the church.
The blowing of trumpets in Psalm 81 foreshadows the regathering of Israel and the answer to the prayer of Psalm 80. Notice in verse 11 why God was not hearing His people. They would not hearken to His voice; thus God "gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.".
Psalm 82 gives us the pre-Kingdom judgment. In this Psalm God takes His place as the supreme and righteous Judge, to judge the nations and to administer justice in contrast to the unjust judges. His right to judge is in the fact that all the nations belong to Him, as He takes possession of the Kingdom.
In Psalm 83 Asaph is praying for God's judgment upon the enemies of Israel. In a time of trouble and stress, he is calling on God to deliver His people. Thanks to God, He is faithful in delivering those who call on His name.
In Psalm 84 the Psalmist is rejoicing as he expresses his love for God and his desire for fellowship with the Lord. For years I have been personally blessed by verse 11 of this Psalm. "For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." What a gracious and glorious promise we have in this verse. As we abide in Him daily, He is our light and protection. He gives grace and glory, and every good thing we have comes from Him. His only prerequisite for giving good things is that we walk uprightly.
